Hello and welcome to Environmental Geography at Pebblebrook High School, Fall semester 2017! My name is Mr. Swann and I will be your teacher for this course. Over the next 90 days we will examine how the earth shapes human lifestyles across various cultures, and conversely how humans shape the earth to fit their needs. This course is half science, half social studies, and fully aimed at developing students who understand geo-environmental issues and are capable of solving them. I cannot stress how relevant and important this course content is for your lives and for the livelihood of the earth!You can use this site for the following:

Weekly updates for tentative Monday-Friday lessons

Explanation of assignments

Reminders about homework and due-dates

While we are going to be working hard to solve complex global issues, we will also be having fun throughout the year. The class will be centered around hands-on activities, labs, and projects aimed at life-long skills such as critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation with an emphasis on problem-solving. We will explore the culture of various countries around the world through food, music, and sport. Finally, we will try to get outside of the classroom as much as possible in order to connect with the community and the physical landscape around it.The goal of this course is to prepare you to be global citizens who are environmentally conscious and culturally aware so that you can go out in the world and enact positive change. Unfortunately, the actions of the generations before you have created geo-environmental issues that will have to be solved by YOUR generation. The world needs bright, young problem solvers to step up and take on the challenge of solving these issues. If you spend the next 90 days engaged and focused on the task at hand, then this class will give you the tools you need to literally save the world! Lets get to work.

We will also discuss summer reading blogs-- due no later than Friday, August 5th.

Here is our tentative agenda for the rest of the "week":(Remember- you must attend class on A days with Mrs. Sims, and B days with Mr. Bernard, and vice versa according to your last name. This will change as we level the classes, and as we begin to look at data and adjust groups. For attendance purposes, you will always begin in your A day or B day class.Wednesday A/Thursday B- Begin Personal Mandala assignment. You will find the handout below if you are absent from class.Friday A /Monday B- Continue review of the first three stages of the writing process-- Brainstorm, Pre-Write, and Rough Draft. Students will turn in rough drafts by the end of class.Tuesday A/Wednesday B- Finalize mandalas and complete reflective #believeyoucan piece.Thursday A/Friday B- DAIJ analysis for art/ Common Assessment baseline/ Figurative Language Review

Please make sure that you sign up for remind: text @simssquad to 81010.